Mr. South
It’s different growing up being best friends with the preacher’s kid. I mean, she could tell you a nighttime story that could scare you to death, and then point out all the verses in the Bible why I shouldn’t be afraid.
This, one of my best friends lost her dad last night. He just wasn’t my best friend’s dad. I grew up with her family and her father was our pastor. He helped lead me to the Lord, he baptized me, and he could create the best and most fun Vacation Bible schools ever.
The South’s are like an extended family, more than friends. I know Mr. South suffered for some time now, but I am thankful to remember him with his smiling and happy face at the pulpit, leading us children in a fun song, or at the piano, where he played by ear a happy hymn.
Outside of chuch, there were many activities we did together. I remember my first ride in a boat to go fishing was with Mr. South and family. We were in the Bay and he handed me a fishing pole and I soon had a bite. I was so excited to reel in my catch only to have Myrna gasp, “It’s a shark!” I promptly threw the fishing pole into the waters, to everyone’s horror. Myrna said, “You just don’t throw a fishing pole into the water, Barbara!”
Mr. South, knowing my inexperience, and being a child not understanding the expense of fishing gear, never scolded me, and went into shark infested waters silently, getting his gear. We moved out of the bay and into the Ocean, where I caught 9 croakers.
Now the Souths had incredible faith in the Lord. So, speed in cars and I found out in boats, never seemed to be an issue. We raced another boat home and I never will forget the thrill of our boat jumping in and out of waves so fast.
Arriving to their house, we watched Mr South clean and cook the fish we’d caught. It tasted amazing.
It’s hard to think of that energetic and dedicated man gone from this earth and not with his family, but its warming to know he is no longer suffering and with his Lord he served tirelessly in life.
I mentioned faith before. He lived his faith and taught it to his children.
When I think of tremendous faith in God, I think of the Souths. A wonderful legacy to leave us all with, Mr. South.
Thank you Barbara, Losing dad has been hard, and I haven’t yet seen the worst of my sorrow. There hasn’t been time for me to be still and think about what it all means. Mom has been sick and the family all here, it’s still feels like a dream. The one thing I know for sure is that daddy is in heaven with the Lord he loved and served so faithfuly since 1951 when he began his ministry. Dad gave us the gift of faith, mom gave us the joy of laughter. Daddy was a great example of Gods unconditional love. We children knew always that while daddy may not approve of our choices, we always had his love and support. Now, to look forward to the great reunion we will have in heaven! I don’t know how I would cope if not for the unshakeable truth that my dad is in heaven. Death is not the end, it is the begining of new eternal life. It is the free gift of God, all for us to do is recieve the gift and acknowledge Jesus as our Savior.